Improvement in vehicle-springs



H. GARDINER. Vehicle-Spring.

No. 215,114. Patehted May 6,1879.

Witnesses fifiwu My f W fizveiz 207",

N4 PEIERS, PHOTO-LITHOGRAPNBI, WASHINGTON; D c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIoE.

HEMAN GARDINER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y:

IMPROVEMENT lN VEHiCLE-SPRINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 215,114, dated May 6,1879; application filed September 30, 1878.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HEMAN GARDINER, of thecity, county, and State of New York, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Springs Suitable for Railroad-Cars and other Vehicles,of which the following is a specification. I

My invention has reference to that class of springs composed of steelplates which are combined with steel spiral springs, and commonly knownas elliptic springs.

My invention consists, first, in combining with the usually formedelliptic spring a pcculiar-shaped cylinder, made in the form of a cross,and so arranged that it will contain three separate steel spiralsprings, one placed at right angles to the other two. By means oftruss-rods connected with the two horizontal spiral springs and attachedto the ends of the elliptic springs there will be formed an elastictruss, connecting the ends of the elliptic spring. The third cylinderand spiral spring will be at right angles to the other two, and stand ina vertical position between the plates forming the elliptic spring; and,secondly, in the combination of the parts as a whole, with referenceespecially to forming a railroad and carriage spring.

The usual method of makingelliptie springs, especially for carryingheavy loads, is to form an eye on each end of the inner plate to receivea bolt and coiling the ends of the outer plate around the eye,consequently, by introducing a truss across the'center of the spring,and fastened to each end by means of bolts through the eyes, holding theinner plate rigid, while the outer platehaving no support, its tendencyis to force itself off the eye of the inner plate and let the springcome apart.

There appear to be great defects in all the attempts to support anelliptic spring by means of a truss or bar placed longitudinally withthe spring. They are too rigid, if only a bar across, causing the plateof the spring either to buckle or break; and if the truss is made rigidby being passed through the ends of the spring, the truss itself willbreak by the vibrations of the spring.

It is a well -known principle that the less rigid a spring is the easierit will carry the load, and is less liable to break-for instance, threeseparate springs will carry ten thousand pounds easier than one springof sufficient strength to carry the same weight.

My invention consists in making a spring of its several parts so thatthey will all work in harmony one with the other, and at the same timecarry the load with the least amount of metal.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a side sectionalelevation of the spring; Fig. 2, a top view of the cruciform or compoundcylinder cut through the center horizontally, also a top view of thecompound bolted fork or jaw, which clasps the ends of the ellipticspring, and forming part of the elastic truss rods or bars.

In all the figures similar letters represent similar parts.

.A A, Fig. 1, represent the elliptic spring. B B, Fig. 1, represent thevertical section of the cruciform or compound cylinder. 0 C, Fig. 1,represent truss-rods with their connections to the ends of the ellipticspring. a and M, Fig. 1, represent the connection of the jaws to theends of the elliptic spring with the double or compound bolts, onepassing through the eye made on the inner plate, and the other passingon the outside ot' the outer plate of the elliptic spring for the pun,pose of holding it on the eye of the inner plate.

D D, Fig. 1, represent the inner ends of the truss-rods passing throughthe spiral springs inclosed in the longitudinal cylinders, with screwand nut on their inner ends, and a washer between nut and spiral spring,for the purpose of holding or drawing against the ends of the spiralsprings when the load compresses the plates of the elliptic spring, alsofor the purpose of tightening or lengthening the truss-rods.

E E, Fig. 1, represent sections of spiral springs in longitudinalcylinders.

Erepresents a section of spiral spring placed in the vertical or uprightportion of the cruciform or compound cylinder. This spring is madelonger than the cylinder in which it is placed, and may be termed agraduating spring. As it is not long enough to fill the entire spacebetween the elliptic plates, the

other parts of the spring will carry a light load without operating onthis spring. As the load is increased it will depress the plates of theelliptic spring, and will bring them in contact with this vertical orupright spring, and thereby giving increased resistance or force to thewhole spring.

Fig. 2 represents a longitudinal cross-section of the cruciform compoundcylinder, with truss-rods and clamps, having double or com pound boltsto secure them to the ends of the elliptic spring. These cylinders aremade in the form of a cross, as shown in Fig.1 and Fig. 3, with twohorizontal cylinders attached to the vertical cylinder on opposite sidesand at right angles with it. These cylinders are all formed or casttogether, so as to form one cruciform compound cylinder; but it is madein two halves by being cut through the center of the horizontalcylinders longitudinally, as shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, bolted togetherby means of a lip or flange cast or made on the outer sides, near theends of each longitudinal cylinder. These longitudinal cylinders havetheir outer ends cast or made solid with the cylinder, so that when thetwo halves of the cylinder are bolted together they will form a solidend, except a hole or opening large enough to allow the truss-rods topass through. The horizontal cylinders open into the vertical or uprightcylinder, giving ready access to the screw and nut on the ends of thetrussrods, as will be seen in Fig. 2.

I) D, Fig. 2, show a top view of the clamp or jaw. E E, Fig. 2,represent the two bolts passing through the jaw or clamp. Onepassesthrough the eyes formed on one of the main elliptic plates and the otherpasses through the outer end of the clamp and on the outside of theouter plate formed around the eye of the inner plate. This outer bolt orpin holds the outer plate of the elliptic spring from being pressed offthe eye of the inner plate. As the inner plate is held by the truss-rodsit will not yield to the pressure as readily as the outer plate, whichis not held directly by the trussrods.

Fig. 3 represents an exterior view of the cruciform compound cylinder,showing where it is divided or cut through, so as to form two halves,making it more convenient to be adjusted to the other parts of thespring, as well as making it more substantial by having the ends of thecylinders which the spiral springs press against made solid with thecylinders, so that they cannot give way, as they are liable to do whenthey are tapped or screwed in.

Fig. 4 represents a side view of the jaw or clamp having double orcompound bolts, one passing through the eye formed on one of the mainplates of the elliptic spring and the other passing on the outer side ofthe outer plate around the eye.

By this method of making a spring there are three vital points obtained:first, by greatly reducing the amount of steel required to make a springof the same capacity as the ordinary spring; second, by retaining allthe ease and elasticity of any elliptic spring now made; and, third, byso distributing the amount of metal required in their several parts theyare a great deal less liable to frac' ture than they would be were theyin larger parts or pieces, while at the same time all the parts arebrought in harmonious action together.

Having thus described my improved spring and the manner of constructingthe same, what I claim therein as my invention, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is

1. A spring composed of the compound cruciform cylindrical case B andthespiral springs E, rods 0, and spring F, and the elliptical plates A,constructed, arranged, and operating in the manner and for the purposesset forth.

2. The compound or double bolts, one in the eye of the elliptic plate,the other exterior to it, in combination with truss-rods C (J, the screwand nut on their inner ends, all for the purposes described and setforth.

3. The compound eylinderB, madein halves, with solid heads, on one endof each horizontal cylinder, in combination with the elliptical platesA, truss-rods O, the inner and outer bolts of the jaws, and the spiralsprings E, constructed, arranged, and operating in the manner and forthe purposes set forth.

HEMAN GARDINER.

Witnesses:

JOHN E. DUGAN, H. L. 'ATTENBERG.

